F&I Management & Training

The 58 Saab franchised retailers across the UK were taken by surprise by the announcement that Saab GB has gone into administration, according to Richard Sedgwick, dealer principal at Turners Hill Garage, Crawley, and former Saab dealer council chairman.

“Everything was normal last night and this morning,” said Mr Sedgwick. “I could have dropped down when I was shown the internal press release as I talked to a customer on the showroom floor. There was no advanced consultation.”

Auto Retail Network has been told Saab GB is planning an email question and answer session with retailers who, at the time of writing, had only received the same press release as the media. Apparently Saab AB in Sweden is operating as normal.

“I must emphasise that Saab GB has acted in a straightforward, honourable and honest manner,” said Mr Sedgwick. “Events appear to have been beyond its control. I believe they have been promised money and it has not materialised. So Saab GB called in the administrators as part of voluntary liquidation.

“The UK operation has been very straight and kept us in the picture up until now. Parts supply has actually got better and warranties are being honoured but there have been no cars ordered because the factory has been shut. So there is no way we can provide delivery dates.”

Mr Sedgwick said some customer orders had been cancelled due to the uncertainty but legal obligations on warranty had been honoured.

He added: “We have obligations to our customers and no one is off the road because of a shortage of parts. Sweden’s parts operation has been very helpful and Saab owners have not been inconvenienced.”

It is reported that the administrator has taken over running the business from Saab GB managing director, Charles Toosey, the former finance director who has led the business since Jonathan Nash moved to a role in Saab Europe. Calls to the Saab GB headquarters were not being answered and a further announcement is expected in the next few days.

DATED: 29.11.11

FEED: ARN